On 5/23/2012 2:00 AM, Rafael Skodlar wrote: > On 05/22/2012 02:21 AM, andy pugh wrote: > >> On 22 May 2012 07:53, Rafael Skodlar<ra...@linwin.com> wrote: >> >> >>> Using Cat-5 was a surprise to me as it's a bit stiff unless each wire is >>> made of even smaller wires, not common in general use. >>> >> There is solid stranded for fixed installation and stranded for patch cables. >> http://uk.rs-online.com/web/c/cables-wires/network-communication-cable/cat5e-cable/?searchTerm=cat5 >> The stranded would be very much preferred. >> >> There are many other types of multicore cable, it is just that CAT5 is >> readily available. >> >> > There are different kinds of stranded CAT-5 from my experience. However, > stranded cat-5/6 were not designed for bending over and over thousands > of times IMO. Connecting laptops is one thing, wiring sensors and > electronics on moving mechanisms on CNC machines is another. > > I've come across multi-wire cables with "magic white powder" inside > which made bending much smoother. Insulated wires inside main cable > jacket were sliding along each other easily. I did not pay attention to > that at that time but now I suspect I know what that was all about. > >
True, but they all wear out from cycling eventually. I have seen machine tool servo cables that have worn right through the outer cable jackets and through the shielding - all this will running inside an energy chain/cable track. I worked on a Fanuc equipped lathe that kept blowing servo drives. Looking at the cables in the chain - you could see copper! If you are doing a hobby machine that you run infrequently, you might get years of wear out of them before they go. If this is a production machine that you make money on - go for the better cables. I must admit that I have a strand of regular Cat 5 solid cable that runs through the air between my house and garage/shop about 20 feet.. It was meant to be a temporary fix - 10+ years ago. It has survived ice, snow, wind, some tree branches bouncing on it and it flexes whenever the wind blows. It still works which amazes me. I'd replace it.... except that it still works. :-) Dave ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Live Security Virtual Conference Exclusive live event will cover all the ways today's security and threat landscape has changed and how IT managers can respond. Discussions will include endpoint security, mobile security and the latest in malware threats. http://www.accelacomm.com/jaw/sfrnl04242012/114/50122263/ _______________________________________________ Emc-users mailing list Emc-users@lists.sourceforge.net https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/emc-users
